Fresh look at Freo in pioneering research project

AN innovative project in Fremantle’s historical West End will be setting the scene for a new benchmark in Australian historical research after receiving word of major Australian Research Council funding at the end of May.

‘Voices of the West End’ focuses on the multifaceted history of the West End Conservation Area, Fremantle’s central heritage district.

“Rather than focusing on a single aspect of Fremantle’s history, this project will assemble the history of the West End of Fremantle and its people, from the time of settlement to the present day,” said the project’s principal researcher, Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Bolton.

“This is an entirely new way of looking at histories, drawing on the expertise of ten researchers from four universities as well as a range of industry partners.”

Research will cover all of the major cultural groups in Fremantle, and will investigate topics including the fishing industry, migration and communities, religion, heritage buildings, festivals, food and defence.

Professor Bolton said the researchers aimed to produce their findings in two formats: in publications designed to reach a wide scholarly audience and in a digital interactive documentary form.

“The history of the West End will be represented with a virtual tour with recorded oral histories to help the viewer to imagine Fremantle in days past,” said Professor Bolton.

“We are hoping this tour will be available at the WA Maritime Museum and the Visitors Centre, to guide tourists around places of interest, but we would also like to see this history available as an educational resource for WA people.”

This three-year project has the support of the WA Maritime Museum, the Fremantle Port Authority, the City of Fremantle, the Fremantle Society, the Archdiocese of Perth/Basilica of St Patrick Fremantle/Fremantle Wesley Parish Mission and the Fremantle History Society.